Overview

Discover Bangladesh

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Journey through this fascinating destination largely unexplored by tourists

This intoxicating trip offers fantastic experiences in a destination largely
unexplored by foreign tourists. Outside the chaotic cities we discover the
country's true beauty; including the lush tea plantations and rainforest
around Srimongal, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Paharpur and Bagerhat,
as well as two days spent exploring the wilderness of Sundarbans National
Park, the largest mangrove forest on Earth. Bangladesh truly is an adventure,
only made more heart-warming by the welcoming people.

Journey through Sundarbans National Park

Visit a traditional Garo village

Explore Buddhist monastery ruins at Paharpur

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Highlights and Inclusions

All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners included

All accommodation

Transfer for group flights

Itinerary

Day
1

The overnight group flights to Dhaka leave London this evening.

Day
2

Those on the group flights will be met at Dhaka airport on arrival and
transferred to the hotel.

Day
3

We leave Dhaka after breakfast and drive to Srimongal, the centre of
Bangladesh's thriving tea industry. The drive is fairly long (approx. 7
hours, 200km) but the lively towns we pass through as we make our way from
Dhaka's lowland plains to the rolling forested hills of Srimongal provide
plenty of interest. We'll have a lunch stop en route. In the afternoon we
visit the tribal village of Manipuri Para, home to a community of ethnic
Meitei from northeast India. Here we also stop at a local tea cabin to try
some unique 'seven layer tea', which blends seven different kinds of tea in
one cup.

Day
4

Although the area around Srimongal has lots of tea and rubber plantations, it
also features large tracts of rainforest, and this morning we head to
Lawachara National Park for a three hour forest walk. There are plenty of
birds in the forest, as well as macaques, deer and giant squirrels, and if
we're lucky we may come across a family of endangered Hoolock gibbons. After
the walk, we visit a small village inhabited by another Indian indigenous
group, the Khasi, who produce crops including oranges and betel nut. This
afternoon, we stop at the wonderfully clear Madhubpur Lake, located within a
large tea estate and have a 1 hr lakeside walk. The lake attracts large
numbers of migratory birds during the winter months, and at any time of year
it is a pleasant place to relax and take in the views.

Day
5

This morning we have a long drive (approx. 6-7 hours, 220km) to the friendly
town of Mymensingh, set on the banks of the Brahmaputra. There is some lovely
photo stops en route, with fishing nets and rice drying out on the roadside.
We'll also have a lunch stop en route. In the late afternoon, there is an
optional walk through the lively local markets to the river bank.

Day
6

Historically, much of Bangladesh was controlled by local aristocrats known as
Zamindars, and this morning we visit a large palace complex just outside the
city which was home to a Zamindar family. The drive is approx. 45 mins. The
palace, now abandoned, features buildings dating back as far as the 16th
century, and its architecture displays clear influences of the Mughal style
of Rajasthan. Further out of town, close to the main highway and another 30
mins drive, is Madhabpur National Park, a large forest reserve known for its
proliferation of sal trees, a sacred plant in Hindu mythology. After a short
walk in the forest, we visit a village which is home to the ethnic Garo
people, one of the world's only matrilineal societies, to learn more about
their simple way of life and their traditional customs which mix Christianity
with older animistic religions. Our journey continues to the town of Bogra,
and we cross the mighty Jamuna River on the way. We'll be on the road for
approx. 8.5 hrs today, 185km, but this does include the Rajbari and Madhabpur
stops!

Day
7

We spend a full day exploring two of the most important historic sites in
Bangladesh - the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Paharpur and the citadel of
Mahastangarh. Paharpur is one of the best known and best preserved Buddhist
monasteries in southern Asia, and we spend time exploring the many monastic
cells and shrines as well as the imposing central stupa. The carvings and
layout of the site bear remarkable similarities to the later temples of
Angkor in Cambodia and Prambanam on Java. The vast citadel of Mahastangarh is
the oldest archaeological site in the country, dating back to at least the
3rd century BC. It was in constant use until the 18th century, and it
features huge earth-covered fortifications as well as evidence of occupation
by both Hindus and Muslims. Total driving time today is approx. 5 hrs,
125km.

Day
8

Today we leave Bogra and drive for approx. 2-3 hrs to Puthia, home to a
collection of Hindu temples and palaces built by the Zamindars of nearby
Rajashahi in the 19th century. Particularly notable are the grand Govinda
temple, with its graceful terracotta ornamentation, and the large five-spired
Bubaneshwar Shiva temple, which overlooks a tranquil lake and is reminiscent
of the temples of northern India. The large palace of the Zamindars is also
impressive, featuring a blend of traditional and classical European
architecture. From Puthia, we continue for another 2-3 hrs to Kushtia, the
cultural heart of Bangladesh, where, time permitting, we visit the beautiful
Kuthibari Mansion, where Nobel Prize winning poet Rabindranath Tagore
produced most of his famous work. Total driving time approx. 5 hrs, 200km.

Day
9

We spend the morning exploring Kushtia and its surroundings, including a
visit to the mausoleum of Lalon Fakir, a renowned saint, mystic and
songwriter who influenced many local and international poets, including Beat
poet Allen Ginsberg. In the afternoon we drive for approx. 5-6 hrs to the
city of Khulna, gateway to the Sundarbans.

Day
12

We continue our journey through the Sundarbans today, with a half-day of
cruising the backwaters and creeks as we make our way slowly back to Mongla.
From here we drive back to Khulna, where we arrive in the late afternoon. If
there is time in the afternoon, we may visit the Sixty Domed Mosque in
Bagerhat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most impressive mosques in
southern Asia and the largest brick mosque in Bangladesh, it dates back to
the 15th century and despite its name, actually has 77 domes supported by 60
elegant pillars. If time is tight, we will visit the mosque tomorrow morning
before we travel to Dhaka.

Day
13

This morning we set off on a long journey (approx. 9 -10 hrs, 205km) to Dhaka
- the drive includes a fascinating 2 hr ferry crossing of the Padma River as
we near the capital. Tea and snacks are available to buy at the ghats whilst
you wait for the ferry, as well as on board.

Day
14

Today we have a full day tour of Dhaka. The mix of cultures in Bangladesh is
evident as we visit the 11th century Dakeshwari Hindu temple and the 17th
century Lalbagh Fort, an unfinished yet still imposing Mughal fort complex.
We also learn about the country's more recent history at the Liberation War
Museum and the Shaheed Minar, a monument to those killed during the Bengali
Language Movement of 1952.

Day
15

Those on the group flights will depart for the airport this morning for the
daytime flight back to London.